Brazil Gives Power Back To People

May 10, 1985|By United Press International.

BRASILIA — Brazil consolidated its return to democracy Thursday by restoring direct popular elections for president, legalizing the Communist Party and repealing a literacy test that excluded 20 million people from voting.

``This crowns so many years of struggle,`` said Sen. Fernando Cardoso, government congressional leader, as a joint House-Senate session passed the changes.

The amendment to restore direct elections was proposed by President Jose Sarney, who took office April 21 after the death of President-elect Tancredo Neves. Both were elected by a college of congressmen after the former president, Joao Figuereido, refused to allow direct elections.

Congress did not set a date for the next presidential election. It probably will be held in 1988, with Sarney remaining in office until then. Sarney has said he wants his term reduced to four years from six by a constitutional assembly that will sit in 1987.

The last directly elected president was Janio Quadros, who took office in 1960 and was removed by a military coup in 1964.

Other major changes approved Thursday by Congress:

-- Legalization of the Communist Party, banned since 1947.

-- Repeal of a 19th Century literacy test, giving the vote to 20 million mostly poor and rural workers previously excluded.

-- Elections in November for mayors in state capitals and towns considered of ``national security`` importance. Under the military regime, hundreds of seaports and frontier and factory towns had appointed mayors.

-- Greater freedom to form and operate political parties.

-- Protection of the congressional mandate. Previously, a congressman could be dismissed for voting against a party proposal.

House President Ulisses Guimaraes said a new package of constitutional changes would be presented in the coming months. It is expected to include greater freedom to form and organize labor unions, a new press law and a revised national security law.